British Airships, Past, Present, and FutureWhale, George
History
British Airships, Past, Present, and Future
Whale, George
Aircraft; Airships -- Britain -- History
From Cape Cod the airship proceeded to Mineola, the landing place on
Long Island. All went well until Newfoundland was reached. Over this
island fog was encountered, and later electrical storms became a
disturbing element when over Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundy. The
course had to be altered to avoid these storms, and owing to this the
petrol began to run short. No anxiety was occasioned until on
Saturday, July 5th, a wireless signal was sent at 3.59 p.m. asking for
assistance, and destroyers were dispatched immediately to the scene.
Later messages were received indicating that the position was very
acute, as head winds were being encountered and petrol was running
short. The airship, however, struggled on, and though at one time the
possibility of landing at Montauk, at the northern end of Long Island,
was considered, she managed after a night of considerable anxiety to
reach Mineola and land there in safety on July 6th at 9.55 a.m.
(British summer time). The total duration of the outward voyage was
108 hours 12 minutes, and during this time some 3,136 sea miles were
covered. R 34 remained at Mineola until midnight of July 9th according
to American time. During the four days in which she was moored out
variable weather was experienced, and in a gale of wind the mooring
point was torn out, but fortunately, another trail rope was dropped and
made fast, and the airship did not break away.
It was intended that the return should be delayed until daylight, in
order that spectators in New York should obtain a good view of the
airship, but an approaching storm was reported and the preparations
were advanced for her immediate departure. During the last half-hour
great difficulty was experienced in holding the ship while gassing was
completed.
At 5.57 a.m. (British summer time) R 34 set out on her return voyage,
steering for New York, to fly over the city before heading out into the
Atlantic. She was picked up by the searchlights and was distinctly
visible to an enormous concourse of spectators. During the early part
of the flight a strong following wind was of great assistance, and for
a short period an air speed of 83 miles per hour was attained. On the
morning of July 11th the foremost of the two engines in the after car
broke down and was found to be beyond repair. The remainder of the
voyage was accomplished without further incident. On July 12th at
noon, a signal was sent telling R 34 to proceed to the airship station
at Pulham in Norfolk as the weather was unfavourable for landing in
Scotland. On the same day at 8.25 p.m., land was first sighted and the
coast line was crossed near Clifden, county Galway, at 9 p.m. On the
following morning, July 13th, at 7.57 a.m. (British summer time), the
long voyage was completed and R 34 was safely housed in the shed,
having been in the air 75 hours 3 minutes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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